Hair drying apparatus



April 6, 1937; v. c. NORQUIST HAIR DRYING APPARATUS s Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 1, 1932 INVENTOR 0 -WcforQ/Varqufi9f BY ATTORNEY p i 1937. r v. c. NORQUIST I 2,076,040

HAIR DRYING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 1, 1952 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 faiaiv April 7- v. c. N ORQ'UIST 2,076,040

H AIR DRYING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 1, 1952 s Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR' K12: for 61 Norguaf mum ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 6, 1937 HAIR DRYING APPARATUS Victor C. Norquist, Kansas City, Mo., assignor to Butler Manufacturing Company, Kansas City,

Mo., a corporation of Missouri Application December 1, 1932, Serial No..645,249

V W ipaims.-(oi: spar My invention relates to a hair drying apparatus and more particularly to a hair drying system in which a central gas-fired hot air generator supplies heated air for a plurality of individual hair drying helmets.

In beauty parlors at present, when it is desired to dry the hair, individual driers are used;

These individual hair driers are usually electrically heated and are expensive and ineflicient in operation. When the devices are turned on,

a considerable time interval must elapse before the temperature required to heat the air is reached and this period of heating not only requires time but also consumes electricity. Theindividual driers are not particularly well insulated so, if many of them are in operation, the space in which they'are being used becomes heated. This is particularly. objectionable as will readily be understood, on a warm day.

One object of my invention is to provide a hair drying apparatus in which a plurality of hair drying helmets may be used simultaneously with a central source of hot air.

Another object of my invention is to provide an economical and eflicient means of generating and supplying hot air to a plurality of hair drying helmets;

A further object of my invention is to pro, vide a hot air generator for my hair drying apparatus having a novel method of preventing heat radiation into the space occupied by my 7 apparatus.

Another object of my invention is to provide a hair drier unit provided with thermostatic means for keeping the temperature of the air part of the instant specification and which are to be read in conjunction therewith and in which like reference numerals are used to indicate like I parts in the various views:

Figure 1 shows a side elevation of my hair drying apparatus with one of my hair drying helmets, the conduit being broken away in part.

Figure 2 is a sectional elevation of the hot air generator of my hair drying apparatus taken along the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a sectional plan view through my J'ustment of the helmet.

hot air generator along the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of Figure 2..

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken along th line 5-5 of Figure 2.

Figure 6 is a sectional viewtaken. alonglgtheg line 66 of Figure 2.

Figure '7 is a sectional view showing the method of supporting the end of the hot air conduit.

Figure 8 is a sectional view taken along. the line 8-8 of Figure 1. Figure 9 is a sectional view taken along the line 9-9 of Figure 8.

Figure 14 is a sectional view taken along the line l4--l4 of Figure 11.

Figure 15 is a fragmentary sectional view showing the aternative method of mounting the hair drying helmet supporting duct to the hot air supply conduit to permit universal ad- In general, my invention contemplates the provision of a central, gas-fired hot air generator to which a conduit is connected. A plurality of ducts which may be as many as desired, are connected to the supply conduit and support helmets. In practice, I have'used as many as ten helmets on asingle conduit with complete success. The generator issupplied with a gas burner which is lighted automatically by a thermostat disposed in the hot air outlet of my furnace. This thermostat also controls the burner to keep the temperature of the outlet air substantially uniform. A blower takes suction through a screen at the upper part of my generator which is provided with a passage-- way between the heating unit per 'se and the casing so that ablank'et of cold air will prevent radiation of heat into the space occupied by my generator. The air is forced by a blower upwardly through a b ailled annular jacket which is provided with heat exchange fins. The hot airgenerated by, my apparatus is fed to an inner conduit suitably supported and extending across the room occupied by my apparatus. Suitably supported from this conduit are a plurality of branch ducts carrying hair drying helmets of any suitable design. I provide means for automatically conducting air to the branch ducts when the helmet is moved to the position occupied during its use.

More particularly-referring now to the draw-. ings, a hot air generator I is connected to a supply conduit 2. A plurality of branch ducts 3 support a plurality of respective hair drying helmets 4. The duct 2 may be supported in any suitable manner. I have shown a'stanchion 5 supporting the conduit 2 by means of a novel 7 end member 6 as will be hereinafter more "fully described.

The hot air generator I is provided with an external casing ID in which is supported an annular jacket member The jacket member ll comprises a pair of spaced walls held in spaced position by a plurality of circular perforated baflles l2. The internal wall l3 of the jacket member II is provided with a number of fins l4 which are formed by bending the internal jacket wall l3 upon itself. These fins can be readily seen by reference to Figure 3. The external casing III is provided witha perforated section I5 nearits upper end. A central passageway I6 is formed in part by the internal jacket member l3 and a cylindrical member H. The lower portion of the casing 18 housesna motor 28 which is supported in any suitable manner such as on resilient pad 2l-to reduee the noise of its operation. .The-

motor 20 drives a blower fan 22 of any suitable type. I have found a sirocco fan the most suit-' able. The fan throws air through outlet 23. A flexible coupling 24 connects fan outlet 23 with a duct 25. By preventing metal to metal contact,

elimination of noise is eifected. Around the cylindrical member I! and-within the lower portion drying generator on the'way to the air supply conduit. Within the central jacket space l6 and running axially of the heat exchanger portion of .my hot air generator, I position apipe 33. The lower end of this pipe extendsto the region of the air supply 25. The upper end of this pipe 33 terminates in a conduit 34, the purpose of which will be hereinafter more fully described. In the circuit which controls the solenoid 3| I provide a transformer 35 adapted to increase the voltage sufilbiently to jump a spark across contacts 36 which are positioned above the burner holes. This spark serves to unite the gas-air mixture coming from the burner holes of my burner- 26.

The operation of the hot air generator will now be described. When it is desired to operate my generator a switch 31 is operated. The operation of this switchstarts the motor 2|, which in turn drives the fan 22. Air is taken through holes I5 of the casing 0. It will be observed that 'these holes are in theupper part -of the room near the ceiling in the region in which the hottest air present in the room will collect. This air is drawn downwardly through the jacket formed by casing i0 and heat exchanger jacket ll, aswill be readily appreciated by reference to Figure 2. The air passing through the annular jacket serves to form an' effective blanket 75 against the radiation of heat into the space oomay be mounted in any suitable manner.

cupied by my generator and, at the same time, will heat the air by contacting with the external wall of the heating jacket I I. This air thus preheated is picked up by blower 22 and forced upwardly through connection 25 into the'cylindrical member l6 and passes upwardly through the internal heating conduit in contact with heat exchangeflns 4. When the switch 31 is operated, the air of course will be cold. The thermostat will thus permit the proper electrical connections to be made to actuate solenoid 3| which will open the gas supply valve 30. At the same time, transformer 35 will be actuated and a spark will be present between contacts 36. This will ignite the gas and light the burner 26. The products of combustion will pass upwardly through the heating jacket I I. Its passage will be delayed by annular baflies |2 which will in turn become heated and serve to heat the jacket walls by conduction. At the same time, the hot products of combustion will heat the walls per se by convection. The hot products of combustion leave the top of the heat- Air is continuously supplied to the burner through ducts 21 and gas is continuously supplied through gas supply pipe 29. After the air reaches the desired temperature, the thermostat will operate and cylinder 3| will be de-energized. This will permit the valve 38 to close. At the same time, the spark jump between contacts 36 will cease. The blower fan will continue to run. At such time as the thermostat drops below the set point, the thermostat will again take charge and the burner will be again lighted.

The thermostat 32 comprises a casing 4|! which One side of the casing 40 is provided with a flange plate 4| to which a supporting arm 42 is secured by means of a rivet 43 or in any other suitable manner. This plate may be rotated around the casing 40. Its position is determined by pointer 44 which is attached to the casing. The supporting member 42 carries the thermostatic element which consists .of a helical spring 45, the internal end of which carries a glass tube 46 in which a quantity of mercury is positioned. One end of tube 46 is arranged for the introduction of conductors 41 and 48. These flexible conductors terminate in switch members 49 and 50 which are suitably supported between insulating. disks 5|. The switch members contact with conductor rods 52 and 53 to which the conductors 54 and 55 are attached. The circuit is open between conductors 41 and 48. Normally, the glass tube 46 is tilted to such an angle that the mercury will complete the circuit between the ends of the conductors 41 and 48 as is shown in Figure 14. Thus, when the switch 31 is operated, the circuit is completed to permit the solenoid 3| to turn on the gas supply.

It is of course understood that the motor 28 is controlled independently of the thermostat. When the air becomes heated beyond a predetermined point, the helical spring 45 will. expand. In expanding it will tilt the glass tube through an angle as shown in Figure 13. Mercury' will,

then flow away from the region of the conductor inlet and permit the circuit to break. The angle members 49 and 50will make sliding contact over the ends of conductor rods 52 and 53. If I rotate the cover plate through an angle large enough to permit the switch members 49 and 50 to leave contact members 52- and 53, the device is definitely turned off so' that the gas will not be turned on regardless of the position of the glass tube 46.

It will be observed that hot air capable of drying hair is generated bythe device just described. The hot air leaves the top of my generator through pipe 60 to which conduit 2 is connected, by means of elbow 6|. The conduit may be of any suitable cross section. It is composed of a number of sections B2 which are joined together by means of a coupling member 63 as can be readily seen by reference to Figure 10. The end of the conduit terminates in a cap casting 64 which is provided with a socket 65 into which a stanchion 5 is'fitted. I am enabled to adjust the level of the conduit by means of set screw 65. Another set screw 61 is provided in my base member 68 to admit of further adjustment. This assembly can be seen by reference to Figure 7. The bottom of the conduit 2 is provided with a plurality of openings around which is positioned a collar I0 secured to the conduit in any suitable manner such as by rivets. H. To the ring-l0 I secure, in any suitable manner, a'branched duct 12 in which is telescoped a duct 13 which terminates in a hair drying helmet 4.1 A flexible member 14 may be of piano wire or anysuitable flexible material. One

end of the flexible member 14 is secured to the telescoping duct 13 by any suitable suspension 15. The other end of the flexible member 14 is secured to a spring roller 16 which is housed in a suitable housing 11, supported by supporting member Ila. The tension of the spring is such that the weight of the telescoping duct 13 and the helmet 4 will be substantially counter balanced. At the end of branch duct 12, I provide a cap member 18 in which is positioned a felt washer 19, the internal periphery .of which engages the telescoping duct I3. By adjusting the cap member 18, the friction between the telescoping duct 13 and the felt washer 19 may be adjusted. I provide another washer 80 within the branch duct 12, and attached to telescoping duct 13, as can be seen by reference to Figures 8 and 9.

Normally, the end 8'l'of the telescoping duct 13 bears against a pad 82 ofcompressible material such as felt; as can be seen by reference to Figure 8. It will be observed that the peripheral edge 8| of the telescoping duct. l3-, when engaging pad 82, will form a tight joint so that no air in conduit 2 will find its way into telescoping duct 13. In other words,.the peripheral edge 8| and the pad 82 form a valve. When the telescoping duct 13 is pulled downwardly as shownin Figure 9, the effect is toput the telescoping duct I3 in communication with the conduit 2 through branch duct 12' Thus, I provide automatic means for placing the telescoping duct in communication with the hot air supply, when the telescoping duct is moved to a position which it will occupy during its use. Normally, I provide helmets 4 at the ends of the various telescoping ducts 13. These helmets form no part of the instant invention and are well known in the art. I may also provide at the end of branch duct 13 a flexible member 84 which terminates in a nozzle 85. This particular fitting is to be used in treating long hair. It frequently happens that certain parts of the hair are not dried by the helmet if the hair is long. By using the nozzle 85, which may be directed to those parts of the hair which are slightly damp, a final drying may be effected byan operator.

In Figure 15, I show a modification in which the branch conduit 12 is supported by means of a universal joint which comprises a ball member 90 and socket members 9| and 92. This will permit the universal positioning of the hair drying helmet.

It frequently happens that a temperature drop will take place of one or two degrees between the helmet nearest my generator and that most remote. In order to insure that all the helmets will be at a uniform temperature, I position a duct 34 which is described above, in the bottom of the main air conduit 2. This duct 34 can be seen in position in Figure 1. It stops just short of the first helmet. Cold air will pass through pipe 33 and issue from the end of duct 34. This cold air will lie along the bottom of the conduit and flow into the first helmet. A portion of it will become diffused with the air and flow into the second helmet. In this way, I am enabled to reduce the temperature of the first and second helmets somewhat so that there will be a uniform temperature at all helmets in use. I also provide a sloping baflle plate 93 within the conduit 2. This baiile plate is so arranged that the volume within the duct decreases progressively toward the. helmet most remote from the generator. I am enabled by this arrangement to insure a uniform supply of air to all of the helmets. 1

It will be seen that I have accomplished the objects of my .invention. I am enabled to supply hot air to a plurality of hair drying helmets in an economical and eflicient manner. I have found that the method of heating air by a gas burner in my device will consume about one fifth as much gas as known types.

The users are relieved of annoying mechanicalnoises. The thermostatic control operates automatically and delivers the air flow at the exact degree of temperature to which the thermostat is set. The airduct being positioned at a point remote from the immediate vicinity of the users. discomfort from radiant heat is prevented. A high degree of emciency in heat exchange is effected by my construction and all danger of escaping gas is precluded by means of my ignition arrangement. The jacket of cold air going to the generator prevents the escape of heat into 'the'space and described.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. A hair drying assembly comprising an air source, a duct communicating with said air source, an air distributing means, a tube telescoped within said duct and communicating with the air distributing means, and an occluding member against which said tube is adapted toseat, the construction being such that the seating of the tube stops the air supply thereto and the lifting of the tube from the occluding member permits the flow of air from the air source to the distributing member.

not to be limited to the specific details shown communicating with said manifold, a ball andsocket mounting means for said braneh duct, a tube mounted in said branch duct and telescopically movable therein, an air distributing helmet carried by said tube, and means for substantially counterbalancing said tube and helmet.

4. A hair drying assembly comprising in combination a hot air generator, a manifold-communicating with said generator, a branch duct' communicating with saidmanitold, a ball and socket mounting means'for said branch duct, a tube mounted in said branch duct and telescopically movable therein, an air distributing helmet carried by said. tube, means for substantially counter-balancing said tube and helmet, and

means for continuously creating frictional resistance to telescopic movement of said tube in said branch duct. r

VICTOR C. NORQUIST. 

